The stars align for Auckland Live’s Matariki celebrations

A stellar lineup of theatre,
music, dance and world premieres for Māori New Year will
light up Auckland Live when top Aotearoa talent headlines
venues in the Aotea Arts Quarter this May and June.

From Monday 12 June an array of Matariki shows will be
on offer at Auckland Live.

Audiences will be able to
relive the big dreams and small town tensions in 1960’s
New Zealand in Te Puhi; immerse themselves in the New
Zealand Dance Company’s world premiere of Kiss the Sky;
and take a musical journey from Ngāruawāhia to
Wellington with Larger Than Life.In addition,
A Day at Auckland Live, which is already fully
booked,will offer tamariki the chance to watch
inspirational performances and take part in theatre
workshops with Freshman’s Dance Crew and Te Rēhia
Theatre Company.

Auckland Live director, Robbie
Macrae, says Matariki is traditionally a time of reflection,
to remember our tupuna and to give thanks.

He says
this season it will also be a great time to celebrate the
brilliant lineup of live arts and performances on offer in
Tāmaki Makaurau, from contemporary new works to free
kid’s entertainment to traditional Māori art forms.

“Toi Māori is a taonga, and we’re very committed to
ensuring audiences have an opportunity to experience the
broadest range of work on offer,” says Mr Macrae.

“This Matariki, young and old will all find something
that resonates with them, not only at Auckland Live but
across the Aotea Arts Quarter,” he says.

Setagainst the backdrop of 1960s New Zealand, WAITĪ
Productions presents Te Puhi, an inspiring coming of
age story about thefirstMāori wāhine to be
crowned Miss New Zealand. Te Puhi is a tribute to
Maureen Kingi, Moana Whaanga and Keita White, the first
Māori wāhine beauty queens. Te Puhi plays from
Monday 12 to Saturday 17 June, Herald Theatre, Aotea
Centre.

New Zealand Dance Company’s Kiss The Sky
is atriple bill of extraordinary contemporary
dance playing on the theme of the seasons, the southern sky
and time. Kiss The Sky will play from Thursday 29
June to Saturday 1 July at the Bruce Mason Centre.

From
Te Rēhia Theatre Company, the creators of SolOthello
and Hoki Mai Tama Mā, comes Larger than Life,
a story packed with aroha and laughs, set in the golden
days of Māori show bands. The development season of
Larger Than Life plays from Friday 30 June to
Saturday 1 July, Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre.

This
year the Aotea Square Ice Rink, operating throughout
Matariki, will be complimented by a free Winter Garden
café, lit up in celebration of the new year.

Also in
the Aotea Arts Quarter, Basement Theatre’s Matariki
offerings include Poropiti and I Ain't Mad at Cha,
from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 June at the Basement
Studio; and Lick My Past and Hair Today –
Teasing and Beyond from Tuesday 27 June to Saturday 1
July. For a full lineup of Basement’s Matariki
Festival celebrations in Auckland please visit www.basementtheatre.co.nz

The
Q Theatre season is presented as part of the Matariki
Festival 2017, delivered by Auckland Council in partnership
with Ngāti Manuhiri. For a full lineup of
celebrations across Auckland this Matariki, visit www.matarikifestival.org.nz

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